Billiard-cushion.



M. J. WHELAN.

BILLIARD CUSHION.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1913.

Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

q i A ATS FIQ.

MICHAEL J. WHELAN, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO BRUNSWICK-BALKE- COLLENDER CO., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

BILLIARD-CUSI-IION.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL J. IVHELAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resi dent of the city of Muskegon, in the county of I'duskegon and State of JMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Billiard-Cushions; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates generally to improvements in a billiard cushion, and it consists, essentially, in the novel and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction, as hereinafter first fully set forth and described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the sheet of drawings already referred to, which serves to illustrate my said invention more fully, Figure l is a vertical section of a fragment of a billiard table with my cushion strip applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a similar section of the cushion per 86, said section being practically full size. Figs. 3, a, 5, 6, 7, S, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 are like sections of modified types of construction.

Like parts are designated by corresponding symbols or characters of reference in all the figures of the drawing.

Cushion strips for billiard tables are produced in strips of proper length from a molded, vulcanized rubber composition,

shaped in cross section aclose approach to an equi-lateral triangle, one side of which, termed the top surface of the cushion, is somewhat convened. This convexed side terminates in a rounded apex called the nose. The opposite side of said triangular structure is designated the working face, and the base of the triangle, as the back. This back is glued to the cushion rail at such an angle that the nose is the point of impact of a billiard ball impelled thereagainst, the point of contact being slightly above the center of the ball.

It is a well known fact that in a properly constructed billiard table the angle of incidence and angle of reflection of a ball Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 14, 1913.

Patented J an. 20, 1914.

Serial No. 778,983.

against and away from a cushion should be equal to insure accurate results in play. To insure this the cushion must be lively; must possess the maximum of resiliency without being soft in any way. If a cushion be at all soft, a temporary indentation is made in the nose thereof by the impact of a ball, which indentation not only destroys the true angle of reflection of the ball, but also fails to impart the proper repulsive force or legs to the ball to make a true shot. Unfortunately a high degree of resiliency in the cushion necessitates a certain degree of softness in the rubber. To overcome this softness of the rubber and yet retain its resiliency in the highest degree is the aim of this invention.

Briefly, I form a longitudinal groove of any preferred shape in the working face of the cushion for its entire length. Then I vulcanize to the working face and in said groove one or more continuous layers of ers blend into and become flush with the nose at the point of contact of the billiard ball. The application of the canvas may also be applied to the back of the cushion if so desired, and the whole process of manufacture is accomplished in the vulcanizing mold. The one or more layers of canvas are first laid in the mold and the rubber composition added; the mold is then closed and heat and pressure applied until the mass has been sufliciently vulcanized. Upon removal from the mold it will be found that a positive adhesion of the canvas to the rubber has taken place. The longitudinal groove imparts greater resiliency to the cushion than before and the stiff united layer or layers of canvas provide a hardened face for the working face thereof, whereby indentation of the cushion upon impact is prevented a true angle of reflection imparted to the billiard ball, and ample legs given to it for a true shot.

To go into further details of my invention I now refer to the drawing in which A represents the table top, B the table rail and C the cushion rail thereof. In the face of this cushion rail is produced a longitudinal bead 1, which is adapted to be embraced fibrous material such as canvas. These layby a like shaped groove 2 in the back 3 of the cushion D. The object of this bead and its mating groove is to remove all lateral stress (tending to 'dislocate the cushion) from the glue which binds it to the rail.

The top surface of cushion D is indicated at E, while E is the nose, F the working face, and G the longitudinal groove extending the entire length of said cushion. This groove may be of any preferred shape as in dicated in Figs. 2, 5, 8, and 11, either angular or arcuate, and the center of the groove is preferably located approximately medially of the width of the working face F.

In Figs. 2, 5, 8, and 11 I indicate a single strip of canvas 4 vulcanized to back 8, groove 2, working face F and groove G. In many cases this single layer will impart sufficient hardness to the said working face. If not I may apply a second layer 5, as seen in Figs. 8, 6, 9 and 12, and even a third 7 layer 6 indicated in Figs. 4:, 7, 10, and 13.

When employing a plurality of layers of canvas, the same are first successively in serted into the vulcanizing mold after which the rubber composition is added as hereinbefore described. The plurality of layers are thoroughly united with the rubber base, and it is therefore possible to produce a cushion possessing an intensely hard working face, yet the initial resiliency of the rubber will not be impaired in the slightest deree.

I While in the drawings I have shown the plurality of layers of canvas as also covering the back, I may apply the succeeding layers after the initial layer to the working face only.

In Fig. 14 I show a single layer of canvas covering the back and the working face of the cushion, but not entering the groove. In certain instances I may employ this construction.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings I show the canvas layer 4: entirely surrounding the rubber cushion D, while in Figs. 3 and 4: I indicate 2 and 3 layers of canvas, respectively. In many cases I will employ this construction, which is to be considered within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure to myself by Letters Patent of the United States 1. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suitable shape having a top surface, a nose, a work ing face, and a back, there being a longitudinal groove in said working face, and hardening means applied to said working face and said groove.

2. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suitable shape having a top surface, a nose, a workwidth of said working face, and hardening, means applied to said working face and sald groove.

4. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suitable shape having a top surface, a nose, a working face, and a back, there being a longitudinal groove in said working face, said groove being located approximately medially of the width of said working face, and hardening means applied to said working face and said groove, said hardening means merging into and becoming-flush with said nose.

5. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suitable shape having a top surface, a nose, a working face, and a back, there being a longitudinal groove in said working face, and a webbed, hardening fabric directly united with said working face and the wall of said groove.

6. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suitable shape having a top surface, a nose, a working face, and a back, there being a longitudinal groove in said working face, and a webbed, hardening fabric directly united with said working face and the wall of said groove, said fabric merging into and becoming flush with said nose.

7. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suitable shape having a top surface, a nose, a work ing face, and a back, there being a longitudinal groove in said working face, said groove being located approximately medially of the width of said working face, and a webbed, hardening fabric directly united with said working face and the wall of said groove.

8. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suit-able shape having a top surface, a nose, a working face, and a back, there being a longitudinal groove in said working face, said groove being located approximately medially of the width of said working face, and a webbed, hardening fabric directly united with said working face and the wall of said groove, said fabric merging into and becoming flush with said nose.

9. A cushion for billiard tables and the like comprising a rubber strip of suitable my hand in the presence of two subscribing shape having a top surface, a nose, a work- Witnesses. ing face, and a back, there being a longitudinal groove in said Working face, and a :5 Webbed, hardening fabric directly united with said Working face.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set MICHAEL J. WHELAN. 1

In the presence of F. J. LOEWE, J. O. MATTESON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

